24/05/26, 10 Quotes

 Swami Vivekananda was a 19th-century Indian Hindu monk, philosopher, and spiritual leader who people rever even today. He became one of the most influential voices in modern Indian history. He was born as Narendranath Datta in Calcutta in 1863. Very early on, he was interested in Western rationalism and Indian spirituality.

The life-changing moment was when he became the foremost disciple of the mystic saint Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. The latter taught him that all religions lead to the same truth and that serving humanity is the highest form of worship

Vivekananda became famous in September 1893 when he addressed the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago. In that speech, he introduced Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world and positioned Hinduism as a universal, inclusive philosophy at a time when Indian civilization was routinely dismissed under colonial rule.

Even today his words resonate with so many people cuttinga cross religions and age groups. To feel inspired and motivated, read some of the words of wisdom that he had to impart.

10 Swami Vivekananda quotes to feel inspired

• “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life; dream of it; think of it; live on that idea. Let the brain, the body, muscles, nerves, every part of your body be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, and this is the way great spiritual giants are produced.”
• “All power is within you; you can do anything and everything. Believe in that, do not believe that you are weak; do not believe that you are half-crazy lunatics, as most of us do nowadays. You can do any thing and everything, without even the guidance of any one. Stand up and express the divinity within you.”
• “The great secret of true success of true happiness, is this: the man or woman who asks for no return, the perfectly unselfish person, is the most successful.”
• “The greatest sin is to think yourself weak”

• “You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself.”
• “Feel nothing, know nothing, do nothing, have nothing, give up all to God, and say utterly, 'Thy will be done.' We only dream this bondage. Wake up and let it go.”
• “All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything.”
• “Ask nothing; want nothing in return. Give what you have to give; it will come back to you, but do not think of that now.”
• "You have to grow from the inside out.  None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.”
• “In a day, when you don't come across any problems - you can be sure that you are travelling in a wrong path”

Article by Shreya Garg